How can I get on base?
We recently got married, but I haven't been enrolled in DEERS yet. DH has been working a lot and sea trials are next week. He *might* have some time the week after sea trials, but I'm not holding my breath. After that, he's gone for at least three weeks. During that time, I need to get on base for my DD's 4 month appointment.
She is enrolled in DEERS, but I don't have an ID card for her. I'm not sure if DH forgot to apply for one since we weren't married when she was born or what. Basically, I'm just confused as to what I'm supposed to do since DH is gone most of the time and can't answer my questions. So far, he's gone to all DD's appointments so I haven't had to deal with this until now.
Hopefully I can get this sorted out soon. Thanks for any help or advice!
ETA: DH is Navy. I'm not exactly sure if that matters or not.
BFP: 9/24/11 EDD: 6/5/12 Natural MC: 11/6/11
Re: How can I get on base?
We had tried once, but the wait time was over 2 hours and he had to be back at work. It just sucks because his boat is getting ready to go out, so he's been getting out past the time the offices close.
What is a POA? I'm sure he'd know, but he's asleep now. I'll tell him to get on that any free moment he has.
You can make an appointment and not have to wait. We made one for DH's lunch time. I assume you can make appointments at all the bases and not just the one we were on. He needs to get you and ID before he leaves.
Maybe it's just his command, but he's asked on a few occasions and they always say they're too busy to let him leave, because they're doing a bunch of fast cruises. Tomorrow starts the second one, and then there's a third right before sea trials on Monday.
I just don't understand why they won't let him leave for an hour or so. But right now he either doesn't come home, or he gets out after 4pm. I'll try to figure something out. Thanks for your help!
His command needs to let him make this a priority- it's interfering with the healthcare of his family.
He would need to leave to go obtain a POA too...
I'm a Navy wife too. My husband was able to obtain a POA on his ship. It wasn't for the ID but the type shouldn't matter.
Wow, never thought that would be an option..but it makes sense! Hope it works out for the OP.
This. Do you know any other wives whose husbands are in your DH's command? Can they get you in contact with your Ombudsman? If you don't know any other wives or anybody in the FRG/Spouse club, get in touch with Fleet and Family Support Center at your base - they should probably have info on how you can contact your command's Ombudsman. Then, call your Ombudsman, (s)he'll get in contact with the appropriate folks to advocate on your behalf. It is absolutely imperative that you have access to base for both yourself and your daughter.
It is unacceptable that your husband's command is letting this go by the wayside. The Navy is always saying that part of mission readiness is making sure the family has access to all necessary resources so that the sailor can focus on the mission and not be worried or distracted about what's happening at home. Your husband's command needs to stand by that Navy policy. Don't give up pestering all the possible channels of communication until you have that ID in your hand.
We didn't get married four months ago. We got married one month ago. We did go down a few days later, but I needed to get some paperwork before anything could happen. I just received my paperwork last week, but now his boat is out of dry dock and they're in the middle of three separate fast cruises in preparation of sea trials, which means my DH has been home a total of two nights in the past week and a half, and I will not see him again until Saturday night, and Monday starts sea trials.
My DH is also not deploying, he'll be gone for three weeks (not including sea trials and the fast cruises), but it's during my DD's 4 month appointment, which is why I want to get this done ASAP.
And to a PP, I didn't even think of the Ombudsman. I am on her email list, and will be contacting her immediately! Thanks for all the helpful advice. Hopefully she can help me figure something out.
You don't need your H there to get you an ID and you don't need the POA.
Have him get you a DD1172 form and that will get you on base and get you an ID without him. Call and make an appointment if you want to, or just go when they open.
ETA: You could need the POA. I've gone with just the DD1172 twice and had no problems. The first time was to get my ID for the first time ever and I didn't have H with me.
"So if you decide to date the guy from Applebees instead will your new SN be "mypearlshisapron?" Your new sig can be "putting the ho in nachos.""- DNBeach12
I just got an email back from my Ombudsman, and she's going to talk to the boat for me. Hopefully I can get this done this week!
Thanks for all your help, and especially to the person who mentioned the Ombudsman.
Happy to help. Your Ombudsman is always your best source when it comes to talking to/with your husband's command. It really is unacceptable that they won't let him off work for an hour and a half to help you get your ID. I get that it isn't a deployment, but 3 weeks is still a long time and as you've already said, you NEED base access if for no other reason than your daughter's appointment. But you also need it for yourself. What if something happens and you need medical care? Or you feel like you need to talk to a counselor or chaplain or heaven forbid you want to buy groceries at the commissary?! Good luck. I hope everything gets sorted out ASAP
THIS!!! Also see if he (or a co-worker) can escort you on base to MPF and you can sit and wait, then call him when there are 10 people ahead of you, and have him meet you there. The process takes all of 10 minutes and I have found if you are there first thing in the morning when they open or right after lunch,is the ideal time's